A Brief Take on the Australian Novel

Grab the popcorn, sit back and let the story of Australian literature roll…

From Jean-Francois Vernay, A Brief Take on the Australian Novel offers a sweeping view of Australian writing since colonialism. Written from an outsider’s perspective, this single-authored overview will appeal to readers through its playful, jargon-free and potentially contentious account of the Australian novel. Vernay offers a unique and insightful perspective on Australian literature.

Like a film narrator, he speaks directly to the reader, offering close-ups on particular works alongside panoramic views of the literary landscape. One can imagine the reader as part of an audience in a darkened cinema, absorbed in exciting action on the silver screen.

‘Vernay’s approach to the Australian novel has the intellectual playfulness associated with some of the best French critical writing …Panorama du roman australien [A Brief Take on the Australian Novel] is bold in its conception and promises to be influential in shaping the wider world’s appreciation and understanding of Australian literature.’ - Simon Caterson, Age